Learn - Lament - LEAD
Cover photo: Adobe
It has been some time since I wrote the first two parts of this series of blogs. You can catch up on my first three articles here:
I write again, prompted by the return of the assisted dying legislation to Parliament. If you remember, it was passed in the Commons but rejected in the Lords. The Christian charity ‘Care’ summarise the situation like this:
Labour MP Lauren Edwards is reviving the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the House of Commons via a Private Members’ Bill. The Bill, which would introduce assisted suicide in England and Wales, will be voted on at Second Reading on Friday 11 September.
Lauren Edwards’ Bill is almost identical to the Bill proposed by Kim Leadbeater and passed by the Commons in 2025, and does not even include the 77 amendments proposed by the Bill’s sponsor in the Lords, Lord Falconer. This means that the deficiencies which were so brutally exposed by Peers still remain, including the lack of protections for people with eating disorders, the lack of guaranteed provision for adequate palliative care, and the possibility of access to lethal drugs for any terminally ill adult in the last six months of their life, even if their reason is poverty or fearing being a burden.
Lauren Edwards has indicated she is unwilling to accept any amendments in the House of Commons, and has also mentioned the possibility of using the Parliament Acts to force legislation through the Lords, in what would be a highly unusual and exceptionally controversial move for a Private Members’ Bill.
Throughout our recent sermon series, ‘Act Justly, Love Mercy’ we were reminded of the heart of God towards those who suffer oppression, marginalisation and pain. We were reminded that to follow Jesus - the fulfilment for the Isa 61 prophecy to speak good news to the poor and set the oppressed free - is to seek justice and mercy as a lifestyle. Of course, many proponents of the bill are motivated by a genuine sense of compassion for the terminally ill. But as previous posts have outlined - as many MPs (including our own Ed Davey) and peers have pointed out - this bill risks the wellbeing of many vulnerable people, puts pressure on the disabled, the elderly and the vulnerable and serves to further increase suicude in all its forms.
As King Lemuel’s mother exhorted in Prov 31:8-9 we, especially those in power like politicians, are to
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
We are not simply to be aware (learn) of what is going on and what the Bible teaches or to just grieve it (lament) but to lead in correcting injustice and doing mercy. Of course, many would say it IS merciful to allow a terminally ill person to die, sparing them untold suffering. But, as Lord David Alton commented in his speech to the Lords in 2025 (read or listen to the whole speech here).
Even if we were to permit assisted suicide with an initially narrow scope, there is a danger of human rights challenges whereby courts rule it is discriminatory to allow assisted suicide for some groups of people but not others, similar to what happened in Canada. Once you permit the practice, you cross a moral and legal Rubicon and it is hard to control the consequences as different groups demand ‘access’ to the same provision.
So, how to ‘lead’? Well, the most straightforward way is to pray (ideas here) and then to contact those your MP and ask them to either hold to or change their position from last time. Find out here how your MP votes and their address here and write to them. Or, like my Dad did recently, go and visit them and talk to them! You could use Care’s suggestions:
If your MP voted No:
Thank you for voting No last time, and standing up for the vulnerable and the voiceless. I really appreciate it.
This Bill is even more dangerous than last time, as there is a significant chance that it passes unamended, via the Parliament Acts. This would ignore the problems highlighted by the House of Lords during the last Bill, and ignores the various concerns raised by the royal colleges, disability charities, mental health charities, and eating disorder charities.
Please attend the chamber on Friday 11 September and vote No again. I know that attending on a Friday when you are typically in the constituency is a big ask, but this is important to me as one of your constituents. Given the numbers are so close, every vote counts.
Thank you for your hard work as our MP. I know that it is a challenging role, and I am thankful for your service.
If your MP voted Yes or did not record a vote:
Please don’t vote for this Bill: not this Bill, and not this way. We have many other priorities as a country, namely, sorting out our social care, palliative care, and NHS services. We need help to live before we get help to die.
This is the same Bill which was relentlessly criticised by professional medical bodies, hospices, medical professionals, academics, disability activists, and many more stakeholders. Their criticism remains unchanged: please heed their warnings and do not approve this Bill.
Furthermore, I understand that the “Parliament Acts” could be used to force the Bill through with minimal or no scrutiny. If you vote in favour, this provides a blank cheque with no guarantee of safeguards being improved, and sets a dangerous precedent for future governments.
How to ‘lead’ in defending the lives of the unborn is for another post.